Air distributor made of plastic material and method for manufacturing this air distributor

ABSTRACT

This air distributor (1) comprises two half-shells (2) made of plastic material and a stack of plates (4) made of plastic material, the two half-shells (2) defining a volume inside of which the stack of plates (4) is positioned, the stack of plates (4) comprising two end plates (40) and the stack of plates (4) defining between its adjacent plates (4) a set of intermediate spaces (10) suitable for a fluid circulation. The plates (4) of the stack of plates (4) are attached to one another, each end plate (40) is attached to one of the two half-shells (2), and the two half-shells (2) are attached to one another.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of PCT Application No.PCT/FR2017/052745 filed on Oct. 6, 2017, which claims priority to FrenchPatent Application No. 16/60105 filed on Oct. 18, 2016, the contentseach of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns an air distributor made of plasticmaterial and a method for manufacturing this air distributor.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, an air distributor, also called intake manifold,comprises an air inlet and several air outlets intended to be connectedto a cylinder head of an engine to convey to each cylinder of the enginethe air required for the combustion of fuel.

It is known to position a heat exchanger inside the distributor toperform a heat exchange between the air circulating through thedistributor in the direction of the engine and one or several fluid(s)circulating through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger istraditionally formed by a stack of aluminum plates. The plates,generally having a rectangular shape, form a parallelepiped block.Because of the pressures exerted within the heat exchanger, screws andbolt means are added during manufacture to ensure sufficient mechanicalstrength.

A first disadvantage of these distributors with integrated exchanger isa significant bulk due to the parallelepiped shape of the heatexchanger. This shape does not allow the heat exchanger to optimallyoccupy the available volume.

A second disadvantage is a by-pass effect existing between the heatexchanger and the distributor. A portion of the air flow entering thedistributor by-passes the heat exchanger by passing between theclearances existing between the heat exchanger and the distributor. Thisby-pass flow lessens the efficiency and prevents obtaining of ahomogeneous air temperature at the outlet of the distributor.

Another disadvantage is the duration of the manufacturing method whichrequires, in order to ensure the mechanical strength, the fastening ofscrews, bolts or bridges, which are all independent inserts.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Also, the present invention aims at overcoming all or part of thesedisadvantages by providing an air distributor offering an improvedmechanical strength, compactness, and efficiency, as well as a methodfor manufacturing this distributor, allowing to reduce the manufacturingduration while maintaining a quality mechanical strength.

To this end, the present invention relates to an air distributorcomprising two half-shells made of plastic material and a stack ofplates made of plastic material, the half-shells delimiting a volumeinside which the stack of plates is positioned, the stack of platescomprising two end plates and the stack of plates delimiting between itsadjacent plates a set of intermediate spaces adapted to a fluidcirculation, in which the plates of the stack of plates are fastened toeach other, each end plate is fastened to one of the two half-shells,and the two half-shells are fastened to each other.

Thus, the distributor according to the invention provides an improvedmechanical strength, compactness and efficiency.

The fastening the two half-shells directly to each other, combined withthe fastening of the plates directly to each other and the end plates tothe half-shells, provides an increased pressure resistance.

In addition, the fact that the end plates are secured to the half-shellsallows preventing the passage of air between the end plates and thehalf-shells, in order to avoid a by-pass effect.

The half-shells and the plates are made of plastic material, providingthe possibility of being shaped according to a predetermined shapeoptimally corresponding to a volume available in the proximity of theengine.

According to a preferred embodiment, the plates of the stack of platesare fastened to each other by gluing and each end plate is fastened toone of the two half-shells by gluing, while the two half-shells arefastened to each other by welding.

These characteristics provide an improved pressure resistance, a limitedby-pass effect, as well as a time saving during manufacture.

According to a preferred embodiment, the distributor comprises at leastone guide and reinforcing column, this column passing through the platesof the stack of plates while connecting the two half-shells.

Thus, the mechanical strength is improved.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the two half-shellsand the end plate fastened against it delimit therebetween anintermediate space adapted to a fluid circulation, this intermediatespace being in fluid communication with at least one of the intermediatespaces of the set of intermediate spaces.

This configuration allows improving the efficiency by allocating themaximum of the space available in the distributor to the heat exchangefunction.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the two half-shellsand the end plate fastened against it comprise interlocking elementsconfigured to allow the interlocking this half-shell and this end plate.

The interlocking elements assist in the proper positioning of the endplate relative to the half-shell, allowing to reduce the assemblyduration. The interlocking elements also limit the by-pass effect.

According to a preferred embodiment, the interlocking elements comprisea groove and a rib intended to be positioned inside the groove, thisgroove and this rib being shaped to extend according to the shape of thecontour of the end plate fastened to this half-shell.

This allows effectively reducing the by-pass effect.

The groove may in turn be delimited by two parallel ribs. The groove isadvantageously wider than the rib, so that there is a clearance oneither side of the rib when it is inserted into the groove. Preferably,the glue used to fasten the end plates to the corresponding half-shellsis deposited inside the groove. This clearance requires a very accuratepositioning of the end plate vis-à-vis the corresponding half-shell. Todo this, the air distributor may comprise positioning members of thegadroon or splines type.

According to a preferred embodiment, the plates of the stack of plateseach comprise two deflector elements extending from one side of theplates, the deflector elements of the adjacent plates being arranged tobe superimposed in order to form a deflector wall intended to impede apassage of air between the plates and the half-shells.

Thus, the air entering the distributor is guided to the correspondingintermediate spaces of the stack of plates, instead of slipping betweenthe stack of plates and the half-shells. This allows limiting theby-pass effect.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle, inparticular a motor vehicle, comprising an air distributor having theaforementioned characteristics.

This vehicle benefits from a distributor with integrated heat exchangerproviding an improved compactness and efficiency due to the optimaloccupancy of the space available in the proximity of the engine.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a method formanufacturing an air distributor, in which the manufacturing methodcomprises:

-   -   fastening the adjacent plates of the stack of plates to each        other,    -   fastening the end plates respectively to both of the two        half-shells,    -   fastening the half-shells to each other.

The method according to the invention allows saving manufacturing timewhile ensuring high pressure resistance.

According to a preferred embodiment, the plates of the stack of platesare fastened to each other by gluing and each end plate is fastened toone of the two half-shells by gluing, while the two half-shells arefastened to each other by welding.

Thus, the method allows dispensing with the screwing and bolting steps,and thus reducing the manufacturing duration.

According to a preferred embodiment, the welding of the half-shellsoccurs after gluing the plates together and each end plate to thecorresponding half-shell.

This results in a substantial manufacturing time saving to the extentthat the polymerization of the glue takes place during and after thewelding of the half-shells, in masked time.

In addition, the polymerization of the adhesive is not completed at thetime of welding, and the welding involving a dimensional variation whichtends to bring the half-shells closer together, an effect of clasping ofthe plates is obtained during welding, which improves the pressureresistance.

According to a preferred embodiment, all the plates of the stack ofplates are beforehand glued to each other so as to form a block, thisblock being then fastened to the half-shells by gluing each end plate tothe corresponding half-shell.

This characteristic allows reducing the manufacturing duration.

According to a preferred embodiment, one of the half-shells comprises atleast one guide and reinforcing column, and wherein the method comprisesa step of positioning the plates relative to one of the half-shells bytranslating the plates along the guide and reinforcing column insertedthrough an opening of the plates of the stack of plates.

An advantage of these characteristics is a more accurate and fasterpositioning of the plates relative to the corresponding half-shell.

According to a preferred embodiment, the guide and reinforcing column isformed integrally with one of the half-shells.

Given the strength of the connection thus obtained between the guide andreinforcing column and the corresponding half-shell, the column may benarrower, so that the surface of the heat exchange between the plates islarger. The efficiency is consequently improved without prejudice to thepressure resistance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention willclearly emerge from the following detailed description of an embodiment,given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawingsin which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are exploded and perspective views of a distributoraccording to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a side view of a distributor according to an embodiment of theinvention,

FIG. 4 is a top view of a half-shell of a distributor according to anembodiment of the invention,

FIG. 5 is a top view of a half-shell and a plate of a distributoraccording to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a top view of a half-shell and a plate of a distributoraccording to an embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a stack of plates of a distributoraccording to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an air distributor 1 according to an embodiment ofthe invention. The air distributor 1 comprises two half-shells 2 and astack of plates 4. The stack of plates 4 forms a heat exchanger. The twohalf-shells 2 delimit therebetween a volume intended to receive thestack of plates 4.

The air distributor 1 also comprises an air inlet 6 and several airoutlets 8 intended to be connected to a cylinder head of an engine (notshown) in order to convey to each cylinder of the engine the airnecessary for the combustion of fuel. The air inlet 6 and the airoutlets 8 open into the volume delimited by the two half-shells 2. Theheat exchanger formed by the stack of the plates 4 is arranged betweenthe inlet 6 and the outlets 8, so that the air entering the distributor1 passes through the stack of plates 4 to undergo a heat transfer beforeexiting. The conduits delimiting the inlet 6 and the outlets 8 may beformed integrally with one or both of the two half-shells 2, and may beformed due to the assembly of the two half-shells, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3.

The air distributor 1 is made of plastic material. More precisely, theplates 4 of the stack of plates 4 are made of plastic material includinga thermally conductive filler, for example polyamide 66 (PA66)comprising a graphite and/or carbon filler, in order to provide athermal conductivity at 20° C. greater than 0.6 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹, preferablyequal to or greater than 1 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹.

The half-shells 2 are also made of plastic material, preferably distinctfrom the plastic material constituting the plates 4, intended towithstand high pressures, for example up to about nine bars, and hightemperatures in the order of, for example, about 200 to 220° C. Thisplastic material may be in particular polyamide 6 (PA6) or 66 (PA66).

The use of plastic material allows making distributor shapes that can beoptimally inserted into the spaces available in the proximity of theengine, and to ensure that the heat exchanger formed by the platesoccupies a maximum of the volume available inside the distributor, so asto have a high efficiency.

The stack of plates 4 comprises plates 4 stacked one after the other ina predetermined stacking direction, for example rectilinear stackingdirection. The stack of plates 4 comprises a plurality of plates 4,including two end plates 40 between which the other plates 4 extend. Theplates 4 may be of the same shape and the same dimensions.

The stack of plates 4 delimits, between the adjacent plates 4, a set ofintermediate spaces 10. Each intermediate space 10 is intended for afluid circulation between the plates 4 to allow in particular a heatexchange between the fluid circulating in this intermediate space 10 andan adjacent intermediate space.

The set of intermediate spaces here comprises open intermediate spaces100 and closed intermediate spaces 102. Preferably, the openintermediate spaces 100 and the closed intermediate spaces 102 arealternately disposed in the stacking direction.

The closed spaces 102 are fluidly connected to each other in order toallow a fluid circulation through all these closed intermediate spaces102. Thus, the heat exchanger comprises a fluid intake channel anddischarge channel, which may be formed by a plurality of inlet openings104 and outlet openings 106, optionally surrounded by a peripheral wall108, and for example formed through the plates 4, each plate 4 having aninlet opening 104 and an outlet opening 106. The distributor 1 furthercomprises a fluid intake opening 34 and a fluid discharge opening 36passing through one of the two half-shells 2 and each opening into oneof the closed intermediate spaces 102 to allow the inlet and the outletof fluid in the closed intermediate spaces.

The open intermediate spaces 100 have an inlet opening communicatingwith the air inlet 6 of the distributor and an outlet openingcommunicating with the air outlets 8 of the distributor 1. The openintermediate spaces 100 are therefore here intended for the aircirculation while the closed intermediate spaces 102 may be intended forthe circulation of a heat transfer fluid, for example glycol water,intended to exchange heat with the air passing through the distributor 1and the open intermediate spaces 100.

As visible in FIGS. 2 and 4, one or both of the two half-shells 2 candelimit with the corresponding end plate 40 a closed intermediate space102 communicating with the other closed intermediate spaces 102.

In order to ensure a high pressure resistance, the plates 4 of the stackof plates 4 are fastened, in particular glued to each other, while thetwo half-shells 2 are directly fastened, in particular welded, to eachother. In addition, the end plates 40 are respectively fastened, inparticular glued, to both of the two half-shells 2.

It will thus be noted that the plates 4 are only fastened together. Onlythe end plates 40 are fastened to the half-shells 2, in particular to abottom wall 20 of the half-shells 2. There is therefore a clearance herebetween the section of the plates 4 and the half-shells 2, in particulara side wall 22 of the half-shells 2.

«Directly fastened to each other» means fastened in contact with eachother, and not via a part interposed between the portions fastened toeach another.

Preferably, the plates of the stack of plates are fastened to each otherby gluing.

Each end plate is preferentially fastened to one of the two half-shellsby gluing.

The two half-shells are advantageously fastened to each other bywelding.

No screws or bolts are necessary to reinforce the mechanical strength ofthe distributor 1.

Preferably, the welding interface of the half-shells is in a planesubstantially orthogonal to the stacking direction of the plates 4, sothat the welding operation has the effect that the half-shells 2 claspthe plates 4.

The weld bead binding the half-shells 2 is advantageously continuous andpreferably follows the edge 24 or outer contour of the half-shells 2.

According to the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, each half-shell 2has a bottom wall 20 and a side wall 22. The two half-shells 2 are herefastened, in particular welded, at the edge 24 located at the end oftheir side wall 22. Alternatively, only one of the two half-shells 2 mayhave a side wall 22 and the other of the two half-shells 2 may be formedonly by a bottom wall 20. The edge 24 of the side wall 22 of the firsthalf-shell 2 is then directly fastened on the wall 20 forming the secondhalf-shell 2.

The glue used for gluing the plates 4 together or for gluing the endplates 40 to the respective half-shells 2 is, for example, of the epoxyglue or silicone-based glue type, allowing in particular to withstandthe relatively high temperatures within the heat exchanger.

The welding of the half-shells 2 can be performed by vibration,infrared, or a combination of both. Preferably, the half-shells 2 arewelded by infrared, which provides a better property to the assembledparts, particularly sought for a distributor.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the distributor 1 advantageouslycomprises one or more guide and reinforcing columns 12 allowing toreinforce the pressure resistance of the distributor 1. The guide andreinforcing columns 12 join the two half shells 2. These columns 12 havean end secured to one of the two half-shells 2 and an opposite endsecured to the other of the two half-shells 2.

Preferably, as visible in the figures, the columns 12 are formedintegrally with one of the two half-shells 2 and fastened, in particularwelded, at their end on the other half-shell 2, which allows reducingthe manufacturing duration while improving the mechanical strength.

It will be noted that the columns 12 are advantageously rectilinear andcan extend along the stacking direction. The columns 12 pass through theplates 4 of the stack of plates 4 in order to join the bottom walls 20of the two half-shells 2. The plates 4 are thus provided with throughopenings 46, here aligned, through which the columns 12 extend.

One or both of the two half-shells and the corresponding end plate(s)may comprise interlocking elements, formed for example by acomplementary groove 30 and rib 41. The groove 30 may be formed inside arib 28 protruding from the bottom wall 20, as visible in FIGS. 1, 2 and4, while the corresponding end plate 40 comprises the complementary rib41 of this groove. The rib 28 draws the contour of the corresponding endplate 40, that is to say has substantially the shape of the contour ofthis end plate 40, and is intended to bear against the edge of the face42 of the end plate 40 facing the half-shell 2. The rib 28 materializesthe area where to apply for example the glue. Thus, the end plate 40 isfastened to the corresponding half-shell 2 at the interlocking betweenthe groove 30 and the rib 41. A seal 32, visible in particular in FIGS.1 and 4, can be positioned in groove 30.

It will be noted that seals 48 may be provided between the adjacentplates 4 to ensure the sealing of the stack of plates 4, particularly ofthe closed intermediate spaces 102. The seals 48 may be arranged withinthe gluing areas connecting the plates 4 together and, whereappropriate, the end plates 40 to the respective half-shells 2.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plates 4 of the stack of plates 4each comprise two deflector elements 50 extending from one side of theplates 4, to the side wall 42 of either of the two half-shells 2. Thesedeflector elements 50 extend on either side of the air inlet 6 of thedistributor, and partly delimit the inlet opening of the openintermediate spaces 100. Thus, the deflector elements 50 prevent the airentering the distributor 1 from passing between the heat exchanger andthe side wall 42 of the distributor 1, which limits the by-pass effect.The deflector elements 50 of the plates 4 are arranged to besuperimposed, as visible in FIG. 7, so that the set of deflectorelements 50 form a deflector wall intended to impede a passage of airbetween the heat exchanger and the distributor 1. The end of thedeflector elements 50 is bearing against either of the half-shells 2,preferably secured to the latter, for example glued to the correspondinghalf-shell 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the plates 4 may have a leading edge 52 shapedto promote a laminar flow at the inlet of the open intermediate spaces100.

Furthermore, as visible in FIG. 5, the plates 4 can have obstacles orspikes 54 protruding on a face 42, partly delimiting for example an openintermediate space 100. This promotes a turbulent flow within theintermediate spaces in order to improve the heat exchange efficiency.

The invention also concerns a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle,comprising the air distributor 1 having all or part of thecharacteristics described above.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an airdistributor 1 having all or part of the characteristics described above,therefore comprising in particular two half-shells 2 made of plasticmaterial and a stack of plates 4 made of plastic material, thehalf-shells 2 delimiting a volume inside which the stack of plates 4 ispositioned, this stack of plates 4 comprising two end plates 40 anddelimiting between its adjacent plates 4 a set of intermediate spaces 10adapted to a fluid circulation. The plates 4 and/or the half-shells 2can be produced by injection molding.

The manufacturing method comprises fastening, preferably gluing, theadjacent plates 4 of the stack of plates 4 to each other, fastening,preferably gluing, the end plates 40 respectively to both of the twohalf-shells 2, and fastening, preferably welding, the half-shells 2directly together.

It will thus be noted that the plates 4 are only fastened together. Onlythe end plates 40 are fastened to the half-shells 2. No screws or boltsare necessary to reinforce the mechanical strength of the distributor 1.

Preferably, the welding interface of the half-shells is in a planesubstantially orthogonal to the stacking direction of the plates 4, sothat the welding operation has the effect that the half-shells 2 claspthe plates 4.

The weld bead binding the half-shells 2 is advantageously continuous andpreferably follows the edge 24 or outer contour of the half-shells 2.

The glue used for gluing the plates 4 together or for gluing the endplates 40 to the respective half-shells 2 is, for example, of the epoxyglue or silicone-based glue type, allowing in particular to withstandthe relatively high temperatures within the heat exchanger.

The welding of the half-shells 2 can be performed by vibration,infrared, or a combination of both. Preferably, the half-shells 2 arewelded by infrared, which provides a better property to the assembledparts, particularly sought for a distributor.

Preferably, the welding of the half-shells 2 occurs after gluing theplates 4 together and each end plate 40 to the corresponding half-shell2, but before the complete polymerization of the glue(s) used for thesegluings. This allows a significant time saving in terms of manufacturingduration, because the crosslinking of the glue occurs in masked time.Moreover, the effect of welding, given the dimensional variation that itgenerates, is to bring the half-shells 2 closer together; the lattertherefore clasp the stack of plates 4 before polymerization of the gluebinding the plates 4 together and the end plates 40 to the respectivehalf-shells 2.

Optionally, the method may comprise a step of compressing thehalf-shells against each other during the welding and/or during theduration of polymerization of the glue binding the plates 4 together andthe end plates 40 to half-shells 2.

The method may also comprise a step of positioning the plates 4 relativeto one of the half-shells 2 by inserting the plates 4 of the stack ofplates 4 on the guide and reinforcing column(s) 12 through thecorresponding opening(s) 46 of the plates 4 of the stack of plates 4.

This positioning step may advantageously comprise a step of pre-gluingthe plates 4, including the end plates 40, so as to form beforehand ablock constituting the stack of plates 4, as visible in FIG. 7. Thisblock is then positioned relative to one of the two half-shells 2, whereappropriate by translation along the columns 12 inserted into theopenings 46, and glued to this half-shell 2 via the corresponding endplate 40. The other half-shell 2 is then glued to the other end plate40, then the half-shells are welded to each other.

Alternatively, the positioning step can be performed plate 4 by plate 4,starting with the end plate 40 which once in place is glued to thecorresponding half-shell 2. The other plates 4 being glued to each otheras and when they are positioned, ending with the other end plate 40 andits gluing to the other half-shell 2. The half-shells 2 are then weldedto each other.

It will be noted that the columns 12 are advantageously moldedintegrally with either of the two half-shells 2, which allows animproved time saving and final robustness.

The method may comprise, where appropriate, gluing the end of thedeflector elements 50 to the half-shells 2 in order to eliminate theby-pass effect.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodimentdescribed above, this embodiment having been given only as an example.Modifications are possible, in particular from the point of view of theconstitution of the various devices or by the substitution of technicalequivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of theinvention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An air distributor comprising an air inletand several air outlets, each of the air outlets being intended to beconnected to a cylinder head of an engine, two half-shells made ofplastic material and delimiting an internal volume opened to the airinlet and outlets, a stack of plates made of plastic material andarranged inside the internal volume between the air inlet and the airoutlets such that air flow entering through the air inlet passes throughthe stack of plates before exiting through the air outlets, the stack ofplates comprising two end plates and the stack of plates delimitingbetween adjacent plates of the stack of plates a set of intermediatespaces adapted to a fluid circulation, wherein each plate of the stackof plates are fastened to each other, each end plate is fastened to oneof the two half-shells and the two half-shells are fastened to eachother, and wherein the distributor comprises at least one guide andreinforcing column, the at least one guide and reinforcing columnpassing through each plate of the stack of plates while connecting thetwo half-shells, and wherein the at least one guide and reinforcingcolumn is formed integrally with one of the two half-shells, wherein atleast one of the two half-shells and the end plate fastened against theat least one of the two half-shells comprise interlocking elementsconfigured to allow the interlocking of the at least one of the twohalf-shells and the end plate fastened against the at least one of thetwo half-shells.
 2. The distributor according to claim 1, wherein eachplate of the stack of plates are fastened to each other by gluing, whilethe two half-shells are fastened to each other by welding.
 3. Thedistributor according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the twohalf-shells and one of the two end plates fastened against the at leastone of the two half-shells delimit therebetween an intermediate spaceadapted to a fluid circulation, the intermediate space being in fluidcommunication with at least one of the intermediate spaces of the set ofintermediate spaces.
 4. The distributor according to claim 3, whereinthe interlocking elements comprise a groove and a rib intended to bepositioned inside the groove, the groove and the rib being shaped toextend according a shape of a contour of the one of the two end platesfastened to the at least one of the two half-shells.
 5. The distributoraccording to claim 4, wherein each plate of the stack of plates comprisetwo deflector elements extending from one side of each plate of thestack of plates, the two deflector elements of adjacent plates of thestack of plates being arranged to be superimposed in order to form adeflector wall configured to impede a passage of air between each plateof the stack of plates and the two half-shells.
 6. The distributoraccording to claim 1, wherein at least one of the two half-shells andone of the two end plates fastened against the at least one of the twohalf-shells delimit therebetween an intermediate space adapted to afluid circulation, the intermediate space being in fluid communicationwith at least one of the intermediate spaces of the set of intermediatespaces.
 7. The distributor according to claim 1, wherein theinterlocking elements comprise a groove and a rib intended to bepositioned inside the groove, the groove and the rib being shaped toextend according a shape of a contour of the end plate fastened to theat least one of the two half-shells.
 8. The distributor according toclaim 1, wherein each plate of the stack of plates comprise twodeflector elements extending from one side of each plate of the stack ofplates, the two deflector elements of adjacent plates of the stack ofplates being arranged to be superimposed in order to form a deflectorwall configured to impede a passage of air between each plate of thestack of plates and the two half-shells.
 9. The distributor according toclaim 1, wherein a fastening interface of the two half-shells is in aplane orthogonal to a stacking direction of the plates of the stack ofplates, so that the two half-shells clasp the plates of the stack ofplates in the stacking direction of the plates.
 10. The distributoraccording to claim 1, wherein the air inlet and outlets are formedintegrally with one or both of the two half-shells.
 11. The distributoraccording to claim 1, wherein a shape of the stack of plates is anon-parallelepiped shape.
 12. A vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle,comprising an engine and an air distributor according to claim 1,wherein a shape of the air distributor corresponds to a shape of avolume available in the proximity of the engine.
 13. A method formanufacturing an air distributor according to claim 1, wherein themanufacturing method comprises: fastening the adjacent plates of thestack of plates to each other, fastening the end plates respectively toboth of the two half-shells, fastening the two half-shells to eachother.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the plates of thestack of plates are fastened to each other by gluing and each end plateis fastened to one of the two half shells by gluing, while the twohalf-shells are fastened to each other by welding.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein the welding of the two half-shells occursafter gluing the plates of the stack of plates together and each endplate to a corresponding one of the two half-shells.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 13, wherein all the plates of the stack of plates arebeforehand glued to each other so as to form a block, this block beingthen fastened to the two half-shells by gluing each end plate to acorresponding one of the two half-shells.